Bruce Ellington. That familiar spring visitor, the hamstring injury, felled a number of wide receivers, who do more running than anyone else. But not Ellington. As advertised, he showed excellent strength and stamina. It was also obvious that the playbook began to click for him the deeper he went into the spring. He became quicker as a result, something that really was apparent in the recent minicamp. Many of you noted my mancrush for Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks prior to the draft. Ellington may not be quite as fast and explosive as Cooks, but he has many of the same qualities, including drive and toughness.

Quinton Patton. The second-year receiver shook off a scare about his foot, which he broke last year, to finish with a good minicamp. He was prolific in Wednesday's session, and he looks to make a big jump in his second season. He also served up the most memorable image – at least in my mind – of the session when, in the locker room following the final practice, he power-dunked over coach Jim Harbaugh. See, it's become a game inside the locker room where there is a Nerf hoop. The players lure someone to walk under the hoop and then one of the players, usually Patton, poster-izes that person with a vicious dunk. (Laughter ensues). The victim on Thursday was none other than Harbaugh, which to me signals how well-liked he is – just one of the guys – in the locker room. Of course, there were roars, absolute howls, after it happened, although some of the players noted to Patton that he actually missed the dunk. A few minutes later, the game came to a halt when Patton's next power-dunk ripped the rim from the backboard.

Chris Cook. He was the beneficiary of Chris Culliver's absence and of an ankle injury to Eric Wright, who retired this week. That meant that Cook took nearly all the first-team defensive repetitions at right cornerback. He did not stand out with any interceptions – a shortcoming of his – during any of the open practices. But there also was no press or jam coverage permitted, which is Cook's specialty. That is, Cook had a good spring and we still have yet to see him in his element.

Darryl Morris. He also benefits from Wright's retirement in that it means there's one less player competing for nickel cornerback duties. Vic Fangio likes Morris' quickness – he may be the fastest player on the team. He also likes Morris' smarts, which is what won Carlos Rogers the job the past three years. That Morris also shines on special teams is a bonus.

Tank Carradine. It's clear he's back from the knee injury that hampered him his rookie season. It's tough to evaluate defensive linemen in spring, but Carradine certainly showed the explosion off the line of scrimmage for which he was known at Florida State. It was a positive spring for him.

Blaine Gabbert. Harbaugh says there are four quarterbacks competing to be the No. 2 quarterback. Mmmm. Gabbert had, by far, the most repetitions after Colin Kaepernick. And while none of the passers were terribly accurate as the team breaks down and reinstalls its offense, Gabbert looked solid.

Bykowski is intriguing to me b/c he was horrendous when I watched him last year in pre season (he and Netter). That said, we've had a year to develop him as well so this will be another one of those guys to watch closer and see how much they've developed. I agree that now that it's down to him and Jonathan Martin, he's got a very real shot to make the team here with very little competition. Let's keep an eye on him as well...

Last pre season O-Line play

At this moment I see his upside. his competitiveness and the fact the he is still relatively new to the position and was just a one year starter in college.

Call it a gut feeling.

Edit: Just read Matt Barrows observations from mini camp. There may be antother surprise player to keep an eye on as a OT, Dillon Farrell.

Dillon Farrell. This is an obscure one, yes, but I'm including him because I constantly heard offensive line coach Mike Solari lauding Farrell on Thursday. The undrafted rookie played center at New Mexico the last two years. But he also has experience at tackle, and that's what he was playing – right tackle, with the second-team offense – this spring. Farrell proved to have quick feet and, as you would expect from a center, is a quick learner. It will be tough for him to land a spot on the 53-man roster, but versatile linemen always are coveted on the practice quad.

Bykowski is intriguing to me b/c he was horrendous when I watched him last year in pre season (he and Netter). That said, we've had a year to develop him as well so this will be another one of those guys to watch closer and see how much they've developed. I agree that now that it's down to him and Jonathan Martin, he's got a very real shot to make the team here with very little competition. Let's keep an eye on him as well...

Last pre season O-Line play

At this moment I see his upside. his competitiveness and the fact the he is still relatively new to the position and was just a one year starter in college.

Call it a gut feeling.

Edit: Just read Matt Barrows observations from mini camp. There may be antother surprise player to keep an eye on as a OT, Dillon Farrell.

Dillon Farrell. This is an obscure one, yes, but I'm including him because I constantly heard offensive line coach Mike Solari lauding Farrell on Thursday. The undrafted rookie played center at New Mexico the last two years. But he also has experience at tackle, and that's what he was playing – right tackle, with the second-team offense – this spring. Farrell proved to have quick feet and, as you would expect from a center, is a quick learner. It will be tough for him to land a spot on the 53-man roster, but versatile linemen always are coveted on the practice quad.

Gotta go with the gut feelings there for sure! They work often times. I love watching how far players come esp. from year 1 to 2...I've posted that list several times and it is huge and Bykowski could another one of those players who make huge leaps that second year. Hey, I totally didn't even realize he was playing OT.

Bruce Ellington. That familiar spring visitor, the hamstring injury, felled a number of wide receivers, who do more running than anyone else. But not Ellington. As advertised, he showed excellent strength and stamina. It was also obvious that the playbook began to click for him the deeper he went into the spring. He became quicker as a result, something that really was apparent in the recent minicamp. Many of you noted my mancrush for Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks prior to the draft. Ellington may not be quite as fast and explosive as Cooks, but he has many of the same qualities, including drive and toughness.

Quinton Patton. The second-year receiver shook off a scare about his foot, which he broke last year, to finish with a good minicamp. He was prolific in Wednesday's session, and he looks to make a big jump in his second season. He also served up the most memorable image – at least in my mind – of the session when, in the locker room following the final practice, he power-dunked over coach Jim Harbaugh. See, it's become a game inside the locker room where there is a Nerf hoop. The players lure someone to walk under the hoop and then one of the players, usually Patton, poster-izes that person with a vicious dunk. (Laughter ensues). The victim on Thursday was none other than Harbaugh, which to me signals how well-liked he is – just one of the guys – in the locker room. Of course, there were roars, absolute howls, after it happened, although some of the players noted to Patton that he actually missed the dunk. A few minutes later, the game came to a halt when Patton's next power-dunk ripped the rim from the backboard.

Chris Cook. He was the beneficiary of Chris Culliver's absence and of an ankle injury to Eric Wright, who retired this week. That meant that Cook took nearly all the first-team defensive repetitions at right cornerback. He did not stand out with any interceptions – a shortcoming of his – during any of the open practices. But there also was no press or jam coverage permitted, which is Cook's specialty. That is, Cook had a good spring and we still have yet to see him in his element.

Darryl Morris. He also benefits from Wright's retirement in that it means there's one less player competing for nickel cornerback duties. Vic Fangio likes Morris' quickness – he may be the fastest player on the team. He also likes Morris' smarts, which is what won Carlos Rogers the job the past three years. That Morris also shines on special teams is a bonus.

Tank Carradine. It's clear he's back from the knee injury that hampered him his rookie season. It's tough to evaluate defensive linemen in spring, but Carradine certainly showed the explosion off the line of scrimmage for which he was known at Florida State. It was a positive spring for him.

Blaine Gabbert. Harbaugh says there are four quarterbacks competing to be the No. 2 quarterback. Mmmm. Gabbert had, by far, the most repetitions after Colin Kaepernick. And while none of the passers were terribly accurate as the team breaks down and reinstalls its offense, Gabbert looked solid.

If a player has a football related injury ( injury happened on the football or practice field ) the FO has the ability to put the player on the Active PUP List at the start of Training Camp.
The player can be activated from the list at any time.
If a player is still not activated at the end off Pre Season the FO can put the player on the Reserve PUP List though the player is not allowed to practice or play during the first 6 weeks of the season.

After the sixth week of the regular season the FO has a five week window to either let the player participate in Practice again, put the player on the Iunjured Reserve List or Release the player.If the player returns to practice the FO has another three week window to either Activate the player ( 53 man roster ) or finally put the player on the Injured Resere List.

NFI List - Non Football Related Injuries

The NFI List works the same as the PUP List. The only difference is that the list is used for a player who has a injury unrelated to football ( injury did NOT happen on the football or practice field ).

Also, if a player sustained a injury before he was selected by their team in the NFL Draft ( college football game or practice, preparation for the draft, private workouts etc. ) the FO can put the player on the NFI List at the start of Training Camp.

Injured Reserve List

A player must have a severe injury to be put on this list. 1 player can be activated from this list, Injured Reserve / Designated To Return. The rest is not eligible to play for the remainder of the season, regular season + post season.

Designated To Return

Following the cutdown to 53 players, the new Reserve/Injured rule will work as follows:

1. Only players with a "major injury" who are placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time September 4, or thereafter during the season, will be eligible to be reactivated at a later time.

2. A "major injury" is defined as an injury that renders the player unable to practice or play football for at least six weeks (42 calendar days) from the date of injury.

3. Each team may reactivate only one player placed on Reserve/Injured after 4:00 p.m., New York time September 4. That player must be "designated for return" at the time the club places him on Reserve/Injured, and such designation shall appear on that day's Personnel Notice.

4. Such player is eligible to return to practice if he has been on Reserve/Injured for at least six weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve. He is eligible to return to the Active List if he has been on Reserve/Injured for at least eight weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve.

A player who is on one of those lists does NOT count against the 53 man roster, can participate in team meetings, take advantage of the training + medical facilities, but cannot practice with the team.

Important is that if a player participated in practice during Training Camp, even if it was only for a few minutes, all PUP and NFI List options are off the table !

That means the injured player counts against the 53 man roster at the start of the season. The FO then must decide if they want to keep the player on the 53 roster man roster ( if they hope he can come back during the season ) or place him directly on the Injured Reserve List.

What does that mean for Marcus Lattimore ?

Given the fact that he fully participated in the off season programm so far and looked good I think the FO is just precautious in case there is a setback.

Why is Tank Carradine not listed ?

As Tank was Actived to the 53 man roster last season he is technically not considered a rookie anymore. The injured vets start reporting today.

Last but not least

All those moves are standard and happen at the start of every new Pre Season. They are definitely noteworthy but nothing to be too worried about, if at all, at this point.

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